Right time for luxury (property) shopping?

With the current property market lull, developers are offering many larger-sized luxury properties at discounted prices. Prime central district properties have also seen less activity as foreigners are buying fewer condominium units possibly due to the higher stamp duties and taxes levied on them. Could this be the right time to suss out a good investment deal?

In fact, many developers are looking at doing bulk sales on their unsold stock in order to prevent paying the penalties such as the Additional Buyers’ Stamp Duty (ABSD). Property funds may be the most likely buyers, though individuals or groups of individuals eyeing specific projects could also jump on the opportunity.

City Development Limited (CDL) for example has been trying to sell one of the two 24-storey towers at Gramercy Park and OUE is doing the same with their Twin Peaks development. Prices for Gramercy Park, a freehold condominium project, is expected to hover around $2,600 psf and will be ready for occupation by the Q2 of this year.

Though almost 92.9 per cent of their 174 units have been sold by last year, they still have a number of unsold stock to sell by 2018. Developers can file for extension of their Qualifying Certificate (QC) which allows them a bit more time to sell their stock. But developers will also have to weigh the charges and ABSD against the discounts they are able to provide buyers with bulk-buy offers.